Ars longa vita brevis

di Carolina Lawless

Every human being who has ever walked the face of the Earth knows a fundamental truth. We are all bound together by this inescapable reality about life: it comes to an end. To live inevitably means to die, it is the natural end of any human existence. 

Death has captivated some of the greatest thinkers of all times, from scientists to philosophers, from painters to poets. Who has not pondered the idea of death or speculated about what may lie beyond it?

However, acknowledging our mortality is not the same as accepting it, and, indeed, many do not. But how might you fight anything as invincible as death? Mortality is an intrinsic aspect of humanity, but it does not extend to everything. Immortality exists, simply it does not pertain to human life. The most common way to triumph over death is through works of art: crafting something that will outlive both the artist and the subject of inspiration.

There are a lot of examples spanning from the visual arts to literature and poetry. From the dawn of mankind to the present day, from the earliest cave paintings to Shakespeare’s sonnets, humanity has been driven to leave a lasting mark on the world, to create something immortal.

“Exegi monumentum aere perennius” (I have built a monument more lasting than bronze): these words, by the Roman poet Horace, encapsulate the author’s intent to hold onto life by anchoring himself to his literary works defining them as an everlasting monument that enables him to transcend death. The poet does not die completely and with the praise of posterity he lives eternally in the memories of those who will come later. As Horace says, the poem is “stronger than bronze, taller than the mass of the pyramids”, it transcends time, it is immortal. (Nota)

A similar sentiment is echoed in a later poem by the English romantic poet John Keats: Ode to a Grecian Urn. In this ode the speaking voice contemplates the “state of being” of the figures depicted on the surface of an ancient Greek urn, concluding that they exist beyond reality, immortal and frozen in time. At first, this state of existence appears to be extremely desirable: in the depicted scenes the trees never shed their leaves, the lovers are always beautiful and enamoured, and the piper invariably plays his sweet melodies. However, as the poem progresses, the poet begins to doubt. True – time never corrupts the figures’ serenity – but it also does not allow them to bring their actions and desires to completion. Thus, the lovers remain forever on the brink of their kiss, eternally trapped in the moment that precedes it and deprived of its bliss. The poet seems to suggest that the figures do not thrive in everlasting life but rather they are stuck in it. This idealised version of reality suddenly ceases to be preferable to our own mortal existence, which is subjected to time’s corruption but also to its pleasures.

However, the premise of the end of human life still holds. Individuals may live extremely full lives, which inevitably come to an end. Although the figures on the urn live their moment for the rest of eternity, they can also witness times to come. But do they actually witness eternity, or do they simply stand by and are passively observed?

It is clear that immortality in this context is not a property of the subject, but rather of those who contemplate it. The best example of this can be found in the values of Ancient Greece, specifically in the Homeric society and its heroes.

In the Iliad the theme of death is recurring, as the heroes are aware that many of them will never return from the war. However, death is not seen as the ultimate end of life, but rather as a necessary doorway to access the real goal of a hero’s existence: the eternal glory (kleos).

This concept can be seen on both sides of the Trojan war, with pinnacles such as Achilles – the best of the Greeks (aristos Achaion) – or Hector – prince of Troy. For example, in book 7 of the Iliad the Trojan hero reflects on the glory his actions will bring him, pronouncing these famous words:

“And someday one will say, one of the men to come steering his oar-swept ship across the wine-dark sea ‘there’s the mound of a man who died in the old days, one of the brave whom glorious Hector killed.’ So they will say, someday, and my fame will never die.” What is particularly interesting about Hector’s speech is the way he recognises the dignity of his adversaries, defining them as brave; he himself can only achieve immortal glory by defeating other glorious heroes, allowing their fame and his own to live on eternally. The same goes for the opposite side: Achilles will reach eternal praise by killing Hector. Though practically invincible, Achilles is destined to die in battle at the hands of the Trojans, but in spite of this prophecy he does not fear for his life as he knows his valiant efforts will grant him fame and appreciation in times to come. 

The character’s view on immortality and glory changes drastically in the second epic poem by Homer: the Odyssey. In one of the most touching episodes of this “sequel” to the tale of the Trojan war we see the protagonist Odysseus descending to the land of the dead and encountering the souls of several deceased soldiers, including Achilles. Upon meeting his former companion’s ghost, Odysseus praises him like this:  “As for you, Achilles, there is not a man in the world more fortunate than you – there never has been, nor ever will there be one. As long as you were alive, we Argives honored you as a god, and now down here, I see, you are a great prince among the dead. So grieve no more at dying, great Achilles.”

While this speech is in perfect continuity with the overall message of the Iliad, what is extremely innovative is the dead hero’s response:

“No winning words about death to me, shining Odysseus! By god, I’d rather slave on earth for another man –some dirt-poor tenant farmer who scrapes to keep alive – than rule down here over all the breathless dead.”

In spite of the gloomy circumstances, this speech is a celebration of life, and a critique to the idea of immortality. Though fame, glory and beauty can exist eternally, forever captured by works of art (be it Keats’ urn, Horace’s texts or tales of Achilles’ feats), human life is finite, it comes to an end. We can never be immortal, all we can do is make the most of the life we are given, create a legacy that will remain even when we do not.